Ibrahim Gusau assures full preparations as Nigeria gear up for World Cup playoffs

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has assured that every necessary measure is being taken to prepare the Super Eagles for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-offs.

Speaking on Wednesday, Gusau emphasized that Nigeria is leaving nothing to chance as it seeks to secure Africa’s slot at the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“Everything is being done, by the NSC and the NFF, to see that nothing is left to chance. No stone will be left unturned,” he said.

“That special spirit that saw the team rise to the occasion and score the four goals they needed against Bénin Republic on the final day of the qualifiers will propel the team to victory in the play-offs.”

The Super Eagles are set to face Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in the semi-final stage, before potentially taking on the winner of the Cameroon vs. Democratic Republic of Congo semi-final scheduled for Sunday, November 16.

The semi-final clash against Gabon will be hosted at either the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium or the 22,000-capacity Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, both located in Rabat, Morocco. CAF will conduct a draw on Thursday, October 30, to determine which semi-final match will be assigned to each venue.

“The camp will open in Rabat on Sunday, November 9. We are already in touch with the players, and everyone is on the same page,” Gusau added.

“Every preparation needed to see the team soar to victory will be made, and I believe the players are motivated by the keen desire to feature at the FIFA World Cup finals.”

The final of the playoffs is also slated for the Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, rounding out a critical phase of the Super Eagles’ journey to the world stage.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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